Portland, Oregon Photos

Rowers work out on the Willamette River with the Portland skyline in the distance in this shot taken from the Eastbank Esplanade at sunrise. The esplanade is a walking and biking path running alongside the river, linking the Steel Bridge to the Hawthorne Bridge. It's one of the features that makes Oregon's most populous city easy to navigate.

Photograph by Susan Seubert

Tabor, one of the ethnic food carts along SW 5th Avenue in Portland, is the home of the Schnitzelwich, a Czech-style breaded pork loin or chicken sandwich seasoned with paprika and horseradish.

Photograph by Susan Seubert

A tattooed barista serves a latte at one of downtown's numerous coffee shops. "Coffee is a deeply rooted part of Portland culture," says photographer Susan Seubert. "There's nothing better on a cold, rainy day than to hit one of the many coffee houses with a good book and enjoy a guilt-free cup of joe."

Photograph by Susan Seubert

Clyde Common is a European-style tavern located next to the Ace Hotel in downtown Portland. Nate Tilden and Matt Piacentini opened the restaurant in 2007.

Photograph by Susan Seubert

On the first Thursday of every month, art galleries in Portland, including the Eyeful Gallery in the Everett Station Lofts (pictured), hold receptions and stay open later in the evening to launch new shows. "First Thursday is not only a great way to learn about the contemporary art scene," says photographer Susan Seubert, "it's also good for people-watching. Locals dress for the occasion."

Photograph by Susan Seubert

Portland's old armory, built in 1891, has been stunningly redesigned with concrete, steel, and glass into the Gerding Theater, which hosts live performances.

Photograph by Susan Seubert

Room 315 is a junior deluxe suite at the Ace Hotel. "The Ace is one of the highlights of downtown Portland," says photographer Susan Seubert, "even for locals. It's a stone's throw away from Powell's City of Books and Stumptown Coffee, and its lobby blends into the Clyde Common restaurant."

Photograph by Susan Seubert

Beast is a six-course, prix fixe restaurant in northeast Portland, presided over by chef Naomi Pomeroy. Her menu focuses on local ingredients in a style she refers to as "refined French grandmother." Photographer Susan Seubert, herself a Portland resident, says, "I bump into Naomi regularly at the farmers market on Saturdays, where she gets a lot of her food for the restaurant."

Photograph by Susan Seubert

"The Pearl District is a beautifully gentrified area in downtown Portland," says photographer Susan Seubert. "Once a warehouse district where trains and industry ruled, now it is a place to live, work, and shop." Jamison Square (pictured) features a fountain that simulates a tidal pool; it's a magnet for families with young children.

Photograph by Susan Seubert

The 5.5-acre Portland Japanese Garden is located in Southwest Portland's Washington Park and consists of five distinct garden styles. Through the careful use of plants, stones, and water, areas of serene and quiet beauty emerge.

Photograph by Susan Seubert

A waitress serves pizza and pints of beer at Hopworks, while patrons enjoy Portland's long history of microbreweries. "Portland has had microbreweries for a long time," says photographer Susan Seubert, "and Hopworks is the latest in this lineage." Patrons can order a round of tasters (small pours served on a tray with the brew's name and description under each) to sample the broad selection. Of the bike frames above the bar, owner Christian Ettinger says, "I'm passionate about beer, pizza, and bicycles. I thought there had to be people in Portland who would want to put them all together, and the response has been incredible."

Photograph by Susan Seubert

Pioneer Courthouse Square is "the epicenter of downtown Portland," says photographer Susan Seubert. "This view is new, photographed from the outdoor rooftop bar of Departures Restaurant, located in the Nines hotel, which opened in March and is housed in the old Meier and Frank building. In typical Portland style, this matronly building was refurbished into a hip, happening hotel. The rooftop bar attracts a huge crowd. You often must wait to get on the elevator to be transported up to the land of the young and attractive."